Key for opening cans



May 29, 1956 S- M. HQOSER KEY FOR OPENING CANS Filed Aug. 15, 1953 INVENTOR 26 Sterling Mowell Hooser ATTORNEY KEY FOR OPENING CANS Sterling M. Hooser, Palo Alto, Calif.

Application August 13, 1953, Serial No. 374,056

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to a key for opening cans of the type that have a tear-strip that is usually associated with vacuum packed or pressure packed canning tins, such as used commercially for packaging coifee, shortening, or other food, or commercial products.

With the conventional removal keys now generally used for removing the tear-strip, there is a tendency for the tear-strip to work off the end of the key in the form of open spiral whorls while the tin can is being opened, thus making it difficult to complete the opening of the tin can.

This not only produces the danger attributed to the sharp edges of the twisted whorls, but also causes considerable annoyance, and it is often necessary to use an additional tool such as a pair of plyers to complete the removal of the tear-strip, a feat often beyond the capability of some housewives.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a key which will remove the tear-strip completely from the can without any danger of the spiral whorls slipping actually off the end of the key.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a key wherein a double crank portion thereof located intermediate the ends of the key act as a guide for engagemnet against the side of the can lid during the turning movement of the key in winding the tear-strip from the can.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a key that is formed from a single strand of iron or other inexpensive wire of suitable strength thereby providing a key that is strong as well as inexpensive, which may be attached to a can part, used once and thrown away.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a key for opening cans having a double crank portion extending intermediate aligned crank shafts with a handle at one end, wherein the double crank serves as a steady fulcrum at that critical instant when the tear-strip must be started by a direct lift, and in which the double crank thereafter serves as a tear-strip guide confining the tearstrip to the bight portion thereof, and preventing it from slipping actually off the key.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprises the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, claimed and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the key for opening cans of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the key.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the lower half of the key through the bight portion of the double crank thereof on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the key in operation on the can.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the key and the can on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view, partially in section, as seen approximately on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing how the tear-strip is wound on the key.

There is shown at 10 the tear-strip removing key of this invention particularly intended for use on a pressure or vacuum packed tin can of the type often used for packaging food stuifs and other articles, the can being shown States Patent 0 at 11 with the usual top 12 secured thereto by the usual tear-strip 14.

2,747,764 Patented May 29, 1956 This key 10 consists of a strand of iron wire having an intermediate portion bent in spaced relation to both ends thereof, thereby providing a double crank 15 and 16 separated by a crank bight 17, the double cranks 15 and 16 being each secured at their other ends to aligned crank shaft portions 18 and 20. The end of one of the crank shafts, as of 18 for instance, is bent to form a handle 21 extending on both sides of the aligned crank shafts 18 and 20. The intermediate bight portion 17 between the double crank arms 15 and 16 is flattened as at 22, and is punched or provided with a slot or hole 23 for receiving the usual projecting tongue of the tear-strip 14 for starting the opening operation.

The other end of the strand of wire adjacent the end of the crank shaft portion 20 is flattened so that it may be permanently secured by soldering or welding to a can por tion, such as the top 12 of the can 11, and this flattened securing portion 24 is swaged thin as at 25, where it connects to the end of the crank shaft portion 20, so that the key 10 may be readily broken away therefrom for use.

In operation, the key 10 is first broken away from its securing end 24 to the can 11, and is then placed in position along side the can for adjacent the tear-strip 14 and the usual protecting tongue end of the tear-strip 14 is passed through the slot or opening 23 on the flattened portion 22 of the crank bight 17. Then, the handle 21 is rotated, the crank shafts 18 and 20 providing a fulcrum at this particular critical instant for tearing the tear-strip initially away from the can, and then the handle is rotated winding the tear-strip 14 in whorls 26 about the crank bight 17, the double crank arms 15 and 16 acting as a guide preventing these walls from spiralling actually oif the end of the key, and confining the whorls on the bight of the key between the crank arms until the entire tearstrip 14 has been wound thereon, and the cover 12 has been completely released from the can 11. The key 10 is then usually discarded, the cost of the material and the fabrication being so cheap that a new key is usually provided with each can in the customary manner.

While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A key for removing a tear-strip from a can comprising a strand of stiff wire bent in spaced relation to both ends to form a laterally extending double crank intermediate the ends, and providing aligned crank shafts on both sides of the double crank, one end of said strand being bent to form a handle extending from opposite sides of the adjacent crank shaft portion of the strand, the portion of the strand between the arms of the double crank having an opening for receiving an end portion of a tear-strip.

2. A key for removing a tear-strip from a can comprising a strand of stiff wire bent in spaced relation to both ends to form a laterally extending double crank intermediate the ends, and providing aligned crank shafts on both sides of the double crank, one end of said strand being bent to form a handle extending from opposite sides of the adjacent crank shaft portion of the strand, the portion of the strand between the arms of the double crank being flattened and punched with an opening for receiving an end portion of a tear-strip.

Stollberg Sept. 15, 1931 Grossenbach May 15, 1951 

